Title IX could be Penn State's latest legal nightmare

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Title IX could become the latest legal headache for Penn State, as the 40-year-old law has become the main frame of reference for how colleges and universities are required to handle reports of sexual assault--and has additionally provided some of the most expensive judgments against universities.

According to experts, it's unlikely that the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) would impose what would effectively be an "academic death penalty" resulting in a research shutdown and crippling of the university--a move that would impact tens of thousands of people not involved in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Still, the OCR faces a tough decision, as a refusal to open a Title IX inquiry as part of its Penn State investigation (a move it hasn't ruled out) could send a message to other colleges that it won't ever use the powers granted to it by Congress under the law.

From the article:

Among the legal questions still swirling around Penn State, one has drawn little attention but could pose a threat to the university: Did the school's handling of sex abuse allegations against assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky violate the federal Title IX gender discrimination law? ...